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My Friends by Fredrik Backman (Kindle Edition) Review: A Tender, Funny Tale About Art, Time, and the Friends Who Save Us

ByInnoVirtuoso

What if the most important stories live in the corners—the tiny figures at the end of a pier, the small decisions that change a life, the friendships that carry us when we’re not sure we can carry ourselves? Fredrik Backman’s newest novel, My Friends, starts in that quiet liminal space and builds something soulful, funny, and—true to Backman—completely disarming.

If you loved Anxious People or Beartown, you already know Backman can wring laughter and tears from the same page. In My Friends, he returns with a cross-country mystery wrapped in a coming-of-age memory, led by an aspiring artist who refuses to look away. This review covers what the book is about (spoiler-light), the themes that make it resonate, the reading experience, and practical tips for choosing the best format—especially if you’re eyeing the Kindle edition.

A spoiler‑light summary: the pier, the painting, the promise

The novel opens with a painting—famous, oceanic, and (to most viewers) just a seascape. But Louisa, an eighteen-year-old art student with a restless eye, sees something else. At the far end of a pier, three small figures sit together, quiet sentinels in the world’s very loud noise. Why are they there? Who are they to one another? And what happens when a summer ends but the promises made on it don’t?

Twenty-five years earlier, in a weathered seaside town, four teenagers are learning to breathe in the spaces school and home don’t fill. Their pier is their sanctuary. Their rituals—jokes, secrets, small rebellions—make the world survivable. Backman is too generous a storyteller to reduce them to types. He gives each kid a dream and a bruise, and then he lets them become each other’s shelter.

The threads connect when Louisa—decades after that summer—unexpectedly inherits the painting and sets out on a cross-country quest to learn where it came from and what it means. Her journey is both practical (find the origin, figure out what to do) and moral (decide what to protect, and why). It’s the kind of narrative that sneaks up on you. You come for the mystery; you stay because you care who gets their soft landing. Want to try it yourself? Shop on Amazon.

Backman’s magic trick: humor without cruelty, hope without denial

Backman has a signature blend: ordinary people doing tender, occasionally ridiculous things while grappling with real grief and consequence. In My Friends, he leans into that balance. The jokes land because the characters are trying to distract themselves, and the emotion hits because it’s rooted in choice—what we protect, what we face, whom we forgive.

  • The tone is gentle, sly, and observant.
  • The humor comes from human oddity, not punchlines at someone’s expense.
  • The hope feels earned, not pasted on.

If you’ve read Anxious People, you’ll recognize the chorus of voices and the warm, slightly wry narration style, but My Friends is more spacious. The sea, the pier, the brushstrokes, the passage of time—Backman lets the elements breathe so the relationships can deepen in the gaps.

Characters you’ll root for (and think about weeks later)

Louisa might be the spine of the book, but she’s far from its only heart. As the story moves between the past and the present, you meet a set of teenagers whose friendship becomes the scaffolding for their adult selves.

  • Louisa: Eighteen, perceptive, stubborn in the right ways. She may not know what the painting’s worth, but she knows it matters.
  • The pier friends: Each carries a private ache and a private wonder. One dreams up big futures. One does small acts of rebellion. One keeps the group from breaking when things get rough.
  • The stranger, changed: Backman’s novels often hinge on a person who’s changed by someone else’s ordinary grace. My Friends honors that tradition with a reveal that feels surprising and inevitable.

Here’s why that matters: when a novelist treats characters as full people—muddled, funny, brave, flawed—we don’t just follow a plot; we live inside a life for a while. That’s the appeal.

Big themes, cleanly drawn

Backman doesn’t hammer themes; he illustrates them with memorable scenes and steady compassion.

  • Friendship as refuge: The pier is more than a hangout; it’s a social contract. These kids choose each other and in doing so, choose themselves.
  • Art as witness: The painting is a vessel. It carries what the teenagers can’t say aloud and what the adults have forgotten to ask.
  • Time and consequence: Twenty-five years is long enough for small acts to become turning points. The book takes that seriously without becoming grim.
  • The power of seeing: Louisa sees the figures most viewers ignore. That act—deciding to look closer—ripples through every chapter.

Backman’s humane worldview aligns with the best of contemporary popular fiction: meaning without grandstanding, moral stakes without moralizing. If you’re the kind of reader who dog-ears pages and says “this, this is it” to no one in particular, you’ll find many “this” moments here. See today’s price and formats here: Check it on Amazon.

How My Friends fits in the Backman universe

You don’t need to read any of Backman’s previous books to enjoy this one. My Friends is a standalone. That said, it shares DNA with his earlier hits:

  • Like A Man Called Ove, it centers ordinary people whose quiet choices reverberate.
  • Like Beartown, it explores how a community bears witness to its own pain and promise.
  • Like Anxious People, it believes in the good we still manage despite our messes.

Backman’s rise from blogger to international bestseller is a story in itself—one that underscores how his voice meets a hunger for kindness without sentimentality. For a snapshot of how his books chart across culture, see the New York Times Best Sellers lists and his author profile at Simon & Schuster.

The reading experience: pacing, structure, and style

This is a novel that breathes. It’s not a thriller with a ticking clock, but it does have propulsion. As Louisa chases the painting’s origin, the revelations arrive in measured steps. Backman alternates between present-day inquiry and past-summer intimacy, which creates a rhythm: question, echo, answer, impact.

  • Pacing: Measured but rarely slow. The emotional beats land with intention.
  • Structure: Dual timeline, interludes of humor and memory, a final act that braids the strands.
  • Style: Clear, warm, and occasionally aphoristic. The writing invites underlining but never feels precious.

Who will love it? Readers who gravitate toward character-driven fiction, book clubs that like layered discussion, and fans of art-infused stories that don’t require deep art history expertise to appreciate.

Kindle Edition guide: formats, features, and buying tips

If you’re weighing the Kindle edition, here’s what to consider.

  • Comfort and control: Kindle lets you adjust font size, spacing, and background. For Backman’s dialogue-rich pages, that can reduce eye fatigue.
  • X-Ray and search: When a novel handles multiple timelines and characters, features like X-Ray and in-book search help you revisit who’s who without flipping back.
  • Syncing and audio: If there’s an Audible narration, Whispersync can let you switch between reading and listening. Check availability on Audible.
  • Notes and highlights: Backman writes highlightable lines. Kindle’s cloud-synced notes make it easy to export and discuss in book clubs.
  • Library and lending: If budget is a factor, see if your library supports digital borrowing via apps like Libby; you can also track community ratings on Goodreads.

If you prefer hardcovers for the shelf, great—this is a beautiful conversation-starter. But if you want portability, instant delivery, and note-taking ease, the Kindle edition shines. Compare formats or See price on Amazon.

Content notes and sensitivities (spoiler-light)

Backman respects hard topics without wallowing. Expect mentions of family strain, economic stress, and the kind of teenage boundary-testing that arises in most coming-of-age stories. There’s grief here, too, but it’s treated with tenderness. If your book club appreciates a heads-up for content, you can confidently say: this book is more healing than harrowing.

What makes the story stick

There are scenes you’ll replay: a quiet apology on a sea-worn pier, a small joke that undercuts a big fear, the moment Louisa chooses to go farther than she planned. The novel also asks a question that lingers long after you close the final page: What do we owe the people who made us possible? The answer shifts as the characters grow, which is the point.

Let me explain why that’s rare. Many novels give you plot closure or emotional closure. My Friends tries to offer both: a satisfying resolution to the mystery of the painting and a credible, earned sense of who these characters are twenty-five years later.

Book club guide: thoughtful questions and pairing ideas

Use these prompts to get a rich conversation going:

  • Which character changed your mind the most, and why?
  • How does the painting function—as proof, as memory, as obligation?
  • Where did you see Backman’s humor easing an emotional moment? Did it deepen or distract?
  • What does friendship require in this story—loyalty, honesty, sacrifice, timing?
  • How does time reshape responsibility?

Pairing ideas: – Serve something seaside-adjacent (think lemon bars, popcorn, or a simple fish spread) to echo the pier setting. – Build a playlist of songs from the characters’ teen years and today to mirror the dual timeline.

Ready to add it to your list before your next meeting? Buy on Amazon.

Who should read My Friends (and what to try next)

You’ll love this book if: – You enjoy literary-leaning popular fiction that still reads fast. – You like found-family stories and character-first narratives. – You appreciate humor that’s kind rather than cutting.

If you want comp titles while you wait: – For friendship and time’s long echo: The Gunners by Rebecca Kauffman (see NPR’s books coverage). – For art and memory: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (check critical overviews on Britannica). – For Backman’s own adjacent work: revisit Anxious People or Beartown to compare themes of community and care.

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FAQs: My Friends by Fredrik Backman

Q: Is My Friends a sequel or part of a series? A: No. It’s a standalone novel. You don’t need to read any Backman books beforehand.

Q: Is the Kindle edition a good choice for this book? A: Yes. The adjustable text, X-Ray, and highlight exporting features make it a strong pick, especially for book clubs or annotation lovers.

Q: Is there an audiobook? A: Backman’s novels typically receive audiobook releases. Check Audible or your library’s digital catalog for availability and narrators.

Q: Is My Friends appropriate for teens? A: It’s marketed to adults, with mature themes handled sensitively. Thoughtful older teens who read contemporary literary fiction may also enjoy it, but discretion is advised.

Q: How does it compare to Anxious People? A: Both balance humor and heart, but My Friends leans more into dual-timeline mystery and the long arc of friendship. The tone is similarly humane and witty.

Q: Will it make me cry? A: Many readers report a mix of laughter, lump-in-throat moments, and a warm afterglow. Backman aims for catharsis, not devastation.

Q: Is it good for book clubs? A: Absolutely. It offers rich themes—friendship, art as witness, moral choice—and a structure that invites discussion.

Q: Does the story require art history knowledge? A: Not at all. The art elements are accessible; the emotional throughline is universal.

The takeaway

My Friends is Backman doing what he does best: turning everyday lives into something luminous. It’s a novel about the way friendship steadies us, the way art holds our memories, and the way small acts ripple across decades. If you’re craving a book that treats hope as a discipline—not a shortcut—you’ll find a lot to love here.

If this review helped, stick around for more book guides, reading lists, and author deep-dives—or subscribe to get the next one in your inbox.

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InnoVirtuoso

Hello there! I'm passionate content writer navigating the digital landscape. With a deep love for words and an insatiable curiosity about technology.

With 10 years of experience in IT field, I write mostly about emerging tech, sharing news, informational articles and covering other topics I find interesting.

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